HISTORY OF COMPUTER

GENERATIONS OF
COMPUTER
WEEK 3-4

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 1ST GENERATION OF COMPUTER
(1940-1956) – Vacuum Tubes
The first generation of computers began after
World War II, as scientists explored using
electronic devices for computation. The
concept of using vacuum tubes to control
electronic signals was born.
 TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE 1ST
GENERATION
Vacuum tubes were the key technology,
used for both circuitry and amplification.

Magnetic drums were used for memory.

Input was through punch cards, and output

was typically on paper
 VACUUM TUBES

MAGNETIC DRUM

PUNCH CARD
 EXAMPLES

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer,

1946): First fully electronic computer, developed by John
Presper Eckert and John Mauchly.

UNIVAC I (1951): The first commercial computer

delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau.

Primarily used for military calculations (e.g., ballistic

trajectories) and scientific research.
 FEATURES

 Used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for

memory.

 Relied on machine language (binary) for programming.

 Large, bulky, and consumed a lot of electricity.

 Input and output through punch cards and paper tape.

 LIMITATIONS
 Extremely large and expensive.
 High heat generation and frequent
failures.
 Very slow processing speeds.
 Limited memory and storage capacity.
 SECOND GENERATION (1956-1963) -
TRANSISTORS
In the mid-1950s, the invention of the
transistor by Bell Laboratories marked the
second generation. Transistors were much
smaller, faster, and more reliable than vacuum
tubes, leading to smaller and more efficient
computers.
 TECHNOLOGY USED IN SECOND GENERATION

 Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, reducing size and

energy consumption.
 Magnetic core memory improved storage capacity and
speed.
 High-level programming languages like FORTRAN
(1957) and COBOL (1959) made computers more
accessible for programming.
 EXAMPLE OF SECOND GENERATION COMPUTER

 IBM 1401 (1959): One of the most successful

business computers.
 IBM 7090: An early transistorized mainframe for
scientific applications.
 LIMITATIONS

 Huge, expensive, and consumed enormous

amounts of energy.
 Generated excessive heat, leading to frequent
breakdowns.
 Limited storage and processing power.

Computers became more widely used for business

applications, scientific research, and academic
purposes.
 ASSESSMENT
1. What technology was primarily used in first-generation
computers?
1. A) Integrated Circuits
2. B) Microprocessors
3. C) Vacuum Tubes
4. D) Transistors
Answer: C) Vacuum Tubes
2. Which of the following is a limitation of first-generation
computers?
1. A) High heat generation and frequent breakdowns
2. B) Limited storage and unreliable memory
3. C) Use of machine language only
4. D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
 ASSESSMENT
3. What was the main application of first-generation computers?
1. A) Business data processing
2. B) Military calculations and scientific research
3. C) Personal computing
4. D) AI and robotics
Answer: B) Military calculations and scientific research

4. Which of the following is an example of a first-generation computer?

1. A) IBM PC
2. B) UNIVAC I
3. C) PDP-8
4. D) Apple II
Answer: B) UNIVAC I
 ASSESSMENT
5. Which technology replaced vacuum tubes in second-generation
computers?
A) Microprocessors
B) Quantum computing
C) Transistors
D) Integrated Circuits
Answer: C) Transistors
6. What major improvement did second-generation computers introduce?
A) Introduction of the microprocessor
B) Use of high-level programming languages
C) Personal computing
D) Artificial Intelligence
Answer: B) Use of high-level programming languages
 ASSESSMENT
Which programming languages were introduced during the second
generation?
A) Java and Python
B) Assembly and Binary
C) FORTRAN and COBOL
D) C++ and SQL
Answer: C) FORTRAN and COBOL
A key limitation of second-generation computers was that they still:
A) Relied on vacuum tubes
B) Generated excessive heat
C) Were unable to process high-level languages
D) Were completely manual
Answer: B) Generated excessive heat
 THIRD GENERATION (1964-1971)
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (ICs)

The invention of the integrated circuit (IC) in the

early 1960s revolutionized computing. ICs
allowed multiple transistors to be placed on a
single chip, drastically increasing computing
power and reducing size and cost.
 FEATURES/TECHNOLOGY
 Integrated Circuits combined numerous transistors
onto a small silicon chip, leading to much smaller and
more powerful computers.
 Introduced multiprogramming and time-sharing
operating systems.
 Use of keyboards and monitors instead of punch
cards and printouts for input/output.
 EXAMPLES

 IBM System/360 (1964): A major breakthrough in

mainframe computing, allowing multiple programs to run
concurrently.
 PDP-8 (1965): A smaller, less expensive mini-computer
designed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), often
considered the first successful mini-computer.
 USES

Broader use across business, government, and

research. Companies could now afford to have
computers, and multiple industries began
integrating them into daily operations.
 LIMITATION

 Manufacturing integrated circuits was costly

at first.
 Still required cooling systems, though heat
production was much lower than earlier
systems.
 FOURTH GENERATION (1971 – 1980)

The development of the microprocessor in

1971 by Intel (Intel 4004) was the defining
feature of the fourth generation. A
microprocessor placed the entire processing
unit on a single chip, leading to the creation of
personal computers.
 TECHNOLOGY/FEATURES

 Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) packed thousands (and

eventually millions) of transistors onto a single chip, enabling the
development of personal computers (PCs).
 Dramatic improvements in storage and speed, with the use of
random-access memory (RAM), hard drives, and later, solid-
state drives (SSD).
 Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) allowed for easier human-
computer interaction (e.g., Windows and Mac OS).
 The rise of networking and the internet in the 1990s
revolutionized communication and data sharing.
 EXAMPLES

 Intel 4004 (1971): First commercially available

microprocessor.
 IBM PC (1981): Launched the personal computer
revolution.
 Apple II (1977): One of the first highly successful
personal computers.
 USES
 Personal computing became widespread, leading to
applications in homes, schools, businesses, and nearly
every aspect of modern life.
 The internet became mainstream in the 1990s, linking
millions of computers globally.
 Software development advanced rapidly, with operating
systems like Microsoft Windows and Mac OS
becoming household names.
 LIMITATION

 As systems became more complex, software

development and security management became
challenging.
 The rise of the internet also introduced new risks,
such as cyberattacks.
 FIFTH GENERATION (PRESENT -BEYOND)
– ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

The fifth generation of computers is defined by

the use of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced
machine learning algorithms, and emerging
technologies like quantum computing.
 TECHNOLOGY/FEATURES

 Parallel processing, superconductors, and quantum

computing hold the potential for unprecedented
processing power.
 AI technologies, such as natural language processing
(NLP), neural networks, and deep learning, allow
computers to perform tasks like voice recognition,
autonomous driving, and predictive analytics.
 TECHNOLOGY/FEATURES

 Cloud computing allows for distributed computing

resources, providing scalable computing power on-
demand.
 Advances in robotics and biotechnology enable more
sophisticated human-computer interactions.
 EXAMPLES

 Watson (IBM’s AI system): Famous for winning

Jeopardy! against human champions.
 Google’s DeepMind: An AI program that achieved
milestones like mastering the game of Go.
 Quantum Computers (e.g., from IBM and Google):
Though still experimental, quantum computing could
exponentially increase computational abilities.
 APPLICATION

 AI is transforming industries like healthcare (e.g.,

medical diagnosis), finance (e.g., algorithmic trading),
and automotive (e.g., self-driving cars).
 Voice assistants like Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon), and
Google Assistant are now common in households.
 Advancements in robotics are shaping manufacturing,
medicine, and space exploration.
 LIMITATION
 AI raises ethical concerns around data privacy, job
displacement, and decision-making.
 Quantum computing is still in its early stages, and
practical, widespread application is years away.
 The rapid growth of AI brings about cybersecurity risks,
such as deepfakes and AI-driven malware.
 ASSESSMENT

1. What key technology innovation defined the third generation of computers?

A) Vacuum tubes
B) Microprocessors
C) Artificial Intelligence
D) Integrated Circuits (ICs)
Answer: D) Integrated Circuits (ICs)
2. Which of the following is a key feature of third-generation computers?
A) Use of graphical user interfaces
B) Time-sharing and multiprogramming operating systems
C) Quantum computing capabilities
D) Voice recognition and AI
Answer: B) Time-sharing and multiprogramming operating systems
 ASSESSMENT
3. Which of the following is a major limitation of third-generation computers?
A) Frequent breakdowns due to heat
B) High cost of manufacturing integrated circuits
C) Inability to process high-level languages
D) Limited to only scientific applications
Answer: B) High cost of manufacturing integrated circuits

4. Which computer was a hallmark of the third generation?

A) IBM System/360
B) Apple II
C) ENIAC
D) Intel 4004
Answer: A) IBM System/360
 ASSESSMENT
5. What major invention defined the fourth generation of computers?
A) Integrated Circuits
B) Microprocessors
C) Transistors
D) Quantum processors
Answer: B) Microprocessors

6. Which of the following is a defining feature of fourth-generation

computers?
A) Use of parallel processing
B) Personal computing and the rise of PCs
C) Development of vacuum tubes
D) Only military and research applications
Answer: B) Personal computing and the rise of PCs
 ASSESSMENT
7. Which operating system contributed to the rise of personal
computers during the fourth generation?
A) FORTRAN
B) COBOL
C) Windows and Mac OS
D) Unix and Linux
Answer: C) Windows and Mac OS
8. What was a limitation of fourth-generation computers?
A) Limited processing speed compared to earlier generations
B) Software complexity and security concerns
C) Use of transistors instead of microprocessors
D) Lack of high-level programming languages
Answer: B) Software complexity and security concerns
 ASSESSMENT
9. What is the defining technology of fifth-generation computers?
A) Transistors
B) Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing
C) Integrated Circuits
D) Microprocessors
Answer: B) Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing
10. What is one application of fifth-generation computers?
A) Running basic punch card systems
B) Artificial Intelligence, such as virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa
C) Magnetic tape storage
D) Assembly language programming
Answer: B) Artificial Intelligence, such as virtual assistants like Siri and
Alexa
 ASSESSMENT

11. Which of the following is a potential limitation of

fifth-generation computing?
A) Lack of internet connectivity
B) Ethical concerns and cybersecurity risks
C) Inability to perform parallel processing
D) Use of vacuum tubes
Answer: B) Ethical concerns and cybersecurity risks
 Thanks!
Does anyone have any questions?

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